Tapping in to Lodge's history

TAPPING into an historical connection between Grant Lodge and Abernethy Old Kirk could provide a lifeline for the Elgin building.

Mark Whitton outside Grant Lodge

The lodge has been boarded up since it was damaged by fire more thaen 10 years ago.

Recently it was revealed that there was still around £140,000 left over from the insurance payout following the blaze.

Members of Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructure committee, cancelled the progression of a feasibility study on the building.

However, chief executive Roddy Burns has agreed to meet with interested parties keen to see the 250-year-old lodge brought back to its former glory with a view of finding a way forward, before the matter is transferred to the local authority’s policy and resources committee for discussion.

Mark Whitton, genealogist with the Abernethy Old Kirk Association, has identified three men buried in the graveyard on the outskirts of Nethy Bridge who were sent to defend Grant Lodge during the Last Clan Rising in 1820.

He said: “It could be considered as a live heritage link, with people travelling from Abernethy to Grant Lodge and vice versa.

“The clan rising story is unique to Elgin and Strathspey and more should be made of it. Heritage links such as this could be created with numerous local and not so local historical sites bringing in people from further afield.”